Disposable high chair tray cover

ABSTRACT

Throwaway disposable paper or plastic covers are formed or molded to conform to the top of a child&#39;&#39;s high chair tray in such a way that spillage is confined and not allowed to gather on the surface of the permanent tray. The high chair itself is adapted to secure the high chair tray disposable cover by adding spring clamps to the edge of the high chair tray, or the throwaway cover is made to receive cross ties that hold it in place. The disposable cover is always securely fastened so a child cannot accidentally tear it off and spill his dinner. These throwaway disposable tray covers are particularly suited for use in restaurants where children have available sanitary eating surfaces, and restaurant proprietors have available quick and sanitary clean-up tray covers for high chairs.

United States Patent 1 Dare et al. [451 Apr. 24, 1 973 l DISPOSABLE HIGH CHAIR TRAY 3.279.515 10/1966 Kesh ..|/52 COVER 3.195347 7/1965 Squires ..150/52 x [76] Inventors: Franklin M. Dare; Melissa C. Dare, both of 4335 A Birch St., Tacoma, Wash. 98439 [22] Filed: July 27, 1970 [21] App]. No.: 58,531

[52] US. Cl ..l50/52 R, 108/90, 215/1005, 248/3461, 297/148 [51 Int. Cl. ..B65d 65/02 [58] Field of Search ..150/52 R; 297/148l55; 108/90; 220/55 F, 55 H; 215/1005; 24/252 PC; 248/346.1

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,971,337 8/1934 Collins ..248/346.l 1,891,494 12/1932 Baltzley.... ...24/252 PC 1,135,269 4/1915 Dudley ..l08/90 3,526,316 9/1970 Kalogris ..206/ K X 2,743,128 4/1956 Hawkswell et al ..7....22O/55 F X Primary ExaminerSamuel B. Rothberg Assistant ExaminerStephen P. Garbe Attorney-Roy E. Mattern, Jr.

[57] ABSTRACT Throwaway disposable paper or plastic covers are formed or molded to conform to the top of a childs high chair tray in such a way that spillage is confined and not allowed to gather on the surface of the permanent tray. The high chair itself is adapted to secure the high chair tray disposable cover by adding spring clamps to the edge of the high chair tray, or the throwaway cover is made to receive cross ties that hold it in place. The disposable cover is always securely fastened so a child cannot accidentally tear it off and spill his dinner. These throwaway disposable tray covers are particularly suited for use in restaurants where children have available sanitary eating surfaces, and restaurant proprietors have available quick and sanitary clean-up tray covers for high chairs.

2 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures Patented April 24, 1973 3,729,037

' FIGURE 1 F/GL/HEZ- INVENTORJ. FGQMd/A/ M 94/95 BY Nf/XS'A (.2425

A77018/VE) 1 DISPOSABLE HIGH CHAIR TRAY COVER BACKGROUND OF INVENTION While disposable food receptacles and trays have been known before, none have been especially adapted for use of a childs high chair serving tray. Without throwaway disposable covers, in restaurants, where hasty clean up procedures may occur, a child may be served on an unsanitary tray.

The utilization of spring clamps or cross ties secures each disposable high chair tray cover firmly to a respective high chair tray, and allows each cover to be easily removed without the danger of spillage.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION Restaurant owners and young families are provided with low cost disposable tray covers which they can afford to throw away after one use. The tray cover may carry advertising and/or childrens messages and be attractive wherever it may be used, in restaurants and in homes. It is formed or molded to fit into the recess and around the edge of the permanent high chair tray and be secured by spring clamps or cross ties as added security against accidental spills. All spring clamps are so firmly closed, children cannot open them and hurt themselves, and the cross ties are harmless. Each tray is a one piece cover so no food particles reach the surface of the permanent high chair tray.

DRAWINGS OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view of the top of a high chair fitted with a disposable high chair tray cover;

FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view of a disposable high chair tray cover illustrating its recessed flat surface for receiving food dishes and drinks, its retaining edge, and its lips which extend over the edges of the permanent high chair tray;

FIG. 3 is a partial enlarged perspective view of a spring clamp secured to the high chair to hold the disposable tray cover in place;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the disposable tray cover indicating how it is secured with cross ties; and

FIG. 5 is a partial enlarged view of the securement of the cross ties at one side.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS As indicated in the attached drawings, a disposable throwaway, clean, high chair tray cover is provided for use in a home, and more particularly, in restaurants I and cafeterias. Each disposable tray cover 10 has a recessed surface 12 to receive utensils and dishes, not shown, and an elevated edge 14 serving as an effective retaining device to inhibit the overflow of liquid and the scattering of foods which results from the normal tendency of children to tip over table ware. This retaining edge 14 is designed to conform to and/or enlarge the corresponding permanent edge on most high chair trays, or each tray may be adapted to fit a particular model of a permanent tray 18.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3, disposable tray cover 10 is attached to a high chair tray 18 by securing its outwardly and downwardly extending tray lip 16 with two spring clamps 20 each having serrated edges 22 and being anchored with fasteners 24 to the permanent tray edge. Also, in another embodiment,

illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, disposable tray cover 10 is attached to a permanent high chair tray 18 by securing its opposite downwardly extending tray lips 16 with cross ties 26. The latter are attached by utilizing slotted recesses 28 formed in tray lips 16. These cross ties 26 may be tied securely or be made of resilient materials that are stretched into place. The outwardly and downwardly extending tray lips 16, the elevated edge 14, and the recessed surface 112 are formed so all tray covers 10 are stackable one inside another to facilitate compact and convenient packaging, shipping, and storage of the throwaway tray covers 10.

The throwaway disposable high chair tray 10 is made by forming and/or molding paper and/or plastic materials. Also, the paper is coated with plastic on the top, and/or both top and bottom, or on the bottom only, leaving a top which may absorb spilled liquids by being an effective blotter. At all times disposable high chair trays 10 prevent and/or minimize any moisture which might tend to collect on the permanent tray as a result of spillage.

The throwaway high chair tray covers 10 are made either of colored plastics, or of clear plastics to view decorative designs on the permanent high chair tray. When made of paper, disposable high chair tray covers 10 are decoratively printed with designs and/or advertising messages for commercial users.

SUMMARY OF ADVANTAGES Manufacturers conveniently produce disposable high chair tray covers 10, which are easily attached by the users to permanent high chair trays 18 with spring clamps 20 and/or cross ties 26. The utilization of spring clamps or cross ties to hold the disposable high chair tray covers 10 in place also assures their easy removal. Also closely formed tight fit tray covers 10 might be used, however, their less convenient removal could result in spilled foodstuffs during the clean up period.

These disposable high chair tray covers 10 are especially suited to providing clean eating conditions for children eating in cafeterias and restaurants. Both restaurant owners and young families may be assured that children will be presented a clean eating surface by simply attaching a disposable high chair tray cover 10 taken from a fresh stacked supply of them. After children start eating, absorbent qualities of paper high chair tray covers 10 are convenient when a spill occurs.

We claim:

1. A throwaway, disposable paper cover for a babys high chair tray, adapted to fit over a permanent high chair tray at the start of a meal time to provide a clean surface to receive the baby's food, food dishes, glasses and silverware, and following the meal time to be lifted off and thrown away, leaving the permanent high chair tray ready to be covered again for the next babys serving, such utilization of disposable paper covers being effectively undertaken in restaurants to obtain better health standards, comprising: a paper tray cover havmg:

a. a recessed central portion of the disposable paper cover formed of an absorbent top layer and a liquid tight bottom layer to fit on the top surface structures of a substantially permanent babys high chair tray;

b. a raised retained edge portion integrally formed around the recessed central portion of the disposable paper cover;

c. a first outwardly extending,

downwardly extending then secondly lip portion integrally formed around the raised retaining edge portion of the disposable paper cover, appearing in cross section with the raised retained edge portion, as a flange of inverted U shape; and

d. a removable and releasable securement means to hold the cover in place over the tray of the babys 

1. A throwaway, disposable paper cover for a baby''s high chair tray, adapted to fit over a permanent high chair tray at the start of a meal time to provide a clean surface to receive the baby''s food, food dishes, glasses and silverware, and following the meal time to be lifted off and thrown away, leaving the permanent high chair tray ready to be covered again for the next baby''s serving, such utilization of disposable paper covers being effectively undertaken in restaurants to obtain better health standards, comprising: a paper tray cover having: a. a recessed central portion of the disposable paper cover formed of an absorbent top layer and a liquid tight bottom layer to fit on the top surface structures of a substantially permanent baby''s high chair tray; b. a raised retained edge portion integrally formed around the recessed central portion of the disposable paper cover; c. a first outwardly extending, then secondly downwardly extending lip portion intEgrally formed around the raised retaining edge portion of the disposable paper cover, appearing in cross section with the raised retained edge portion, as a flange of inverted U shape; and d. a removable and releasable securement means to hold the cover in place over the tray of the baby''s high chair during the baby''s meal time.
 2. A throwaway, disposable paper cover for a baby''s high chair, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the overall contours of the recessed central portion, raised retaining edge portion, and the first outwardly extending, then secondly downwardly extending lip portion, make it possible to nest these disposable paper covers for trays of babys'' high chairs during their shipping and storage. 